Clinical Admin Burnout: Is Your EHR a Contributing Factor?
Clinical administrators are the unsung heroes of healthcare practices. They oversee the operational aspects of healthcare facilities, managing budgets, staff schedules, and facility maintenance while communicating with medical staff and patients.
However, the high workload, lack of resources, and inefficient electronic health records (EHRs) lead to burnout for these non-clinical staff. This issue exacerbates the ongoing staffing crisis impacting the healthcare industry.
Addressing clinical admin burnout requires a multifaceted approach that can help clinics ensure efficient workflow, regulatory compliance, and quality patient care. By applying this approach effectively, clinics can retain a reliable ally in improving their operations.
The Role of Electronic Health Records in Healthcare
EHRs efficiently manage patients’ medical data, replacing traditional paper charts. They contain a wealth of information, including medical history, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory test results.
EHR solutions are accessible to authorized healthcare providers in different settings and provide a comprehensive overview of a patient’s health status. For admin staff, EHRs offer several benefits:
- Efficiency: Automated features and electronic workflows can reduce the need for manual data entry.
- Accuracy: With standardized data entry and electronic documentation, administrative staff can ensure the accuracy and completeness of patient records.
- Accessibility: Clinical administration staff can quickly retrieve patient records, review medical histories, and communicate with other healthcare providers, improving coordination of care.
- Security: EHRs offer robust security features to protect patient information, ensure compliance with privacy regulations like HIPAA, and mitigate the risk of data breaches.
- Integration: EHRs can integrate with other healthcare systems, such as practice management software, telehealth platforms, and electronic prescribing systems.
- Analytics and Reporting: EHRs enable administrative staff to generate reports, analyze trends, and track key performance indicators related to patient care, financial metrics, and operational efficiency.
- Patient Engagement: Administrative staff can support patients using patient portals to access their health information, request prescription refills, and communicate with their providers online.
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Understanding the Link Between EHRs and Burnout
Many clinical administrators experience burnout due to EHRs lacking intuitive features and technological solutions that overpromise. Such issues result in the following scenarios:
Lengthy Visit Notes
Clinical administrators experience burnout from the time-consuming task of completing visit notes in the EHR. Detailed documentation is crucial for accurate patient records and billing, but the pressure to complete notes efficiently while maintaining quality is stressful.
Click-Fatigue
EHR systems that require excessive clicking and navigating through multiple screens lead to frustration and burnout. Clinic administrators spend significant time navigating the system rather than focusing on patient care or other essential tasks.
Beyond Office Hours
Sometimes, administrative staff have to spend extra hours in the office to complete EHR-related tasks. This blurring of work-life boundaries results in exhaustion and reduced job satisfaction.
Workflow Inefficiencies
Unproductive workflows or features within the EHR system frustrate administrators. This frustration may stem from repetitive tasks, cumbersome interfaces, or limitations in functionality, contributing to burnout over time.
Growing Patient Demands
As healthcare facilities grow and serve larger patient populations, clinical administrators face increased pressure to manage higher volumes of patient data and administrative tasks. This increased workload strains resources and exacerbates exhaustion.
Unmet Urgency
When clinic administrators encounter technical issues or need assistance with the EHR system, delays in receiving professional technical support worsen stress and frustration. This lack of timely support hinders productivity and amplifies stress.
Patient Frustration
Patient portals integrated into EHR systems are intended to enhance patient engagement. However, patients may become frustrated if these portals are challenging to navigate, unreliable, or lack practical features. Clinical administrators may experience burnout from managing patient complaints and addressing issues related to the EHR system’s functionality.
Unsurprisingly, almost half of non-clinical professionals, including administrators, lab technicians, and food service workers, have reported burnout. They also intend to leave their jobs within two years.
Strategies for Addressing EHR-Related Burnout
Dealing with EHR-related burnout triggers can be a daunting task. Rather than searching for a cookie-cutter solution, healthcare practices should allow clinical administrators to lead the change.
By adopting a multi-pronged approach and taking direction from administrators, practices can take several steps to minimize EHR-related stress and prevent burnout among clinical administrators. These steps include:
1. Invest in electronic health records software with intuitive interfaces, streamlined workflows, and customizable features. User-friendly systems reduce administrators’ cognitive strain and make tasks easier to navigate.
2. Review admin workflows and implement processes to minimize redundant tasks. Customizing EHR templates, automating routine tasks, and integrating with other systems streamline workflows and reduce administrative burden.
3. Use channels for open communication and regular feedback between clinical administrators and leadership. Encourage administrators to provide input on EHR usability and participate in decision-making processes related to system optimization.
4. Provide thorough training and ongoing support to administrators on EHR usage. Training should cover basic functionalities, advanced features, shortcuts, and troubleshooting techniques. Engage every team member to contribute to EHR tasks to distribute the workload accordingly.
5. Monitor EHR usage metrics and satisfaction surveys to identify areas for improvement. Regularly update systems with user-driven enhancements to address pain points.
6. Integrate Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality into the EHR system to streamline access to multiple applications clinical administrators use. SSO allows administrators to sign in once and access all authorized systems seamlessly, reducing the need for repetitive logins.
By implementing these strategies, practices create a supportive work environment, optimize EHR usage, and mitigate stressors that cause burnout among clinical administrators.
Takeaway
Despite their design and objectives, electronic health records can pose various challenges that adversely affect the clinical administrator’s role and cause long-term effects such as burnout.
To address these challenges, healthcare practices must prioritize user experience, provide appropriate training and support, streamline workflows, and invest in EHR systems that meet the needs of clinical administrators and staff. By taking proactive measures, practices can mitigate burnout and promote the overall well-being of their clinic administrators.
Tap Into Our Expertise
Are EHR challenges causing stress and burnout for your clinical administrators? With over 40 years of experience as an A+ rated EHR provider by BBB, 1st Providers Choice understands the importance of addressing these feature issues head-on.
We offer the best solutions, from seamless transitions to superior EHR systems to nationwide training and implementation support. Prioritize user experience, streamline workflows, and safeguard your clinical administrators’ well-being.
Let’s work together to create a healthier, more efficient healthcare environment. Reach out today to learn more!